Tayven Wiberg/Photo by Noah Clooten
DEVILS LAKE — Tayven Wiberg did it all in the Devils Lake B team’s final conference game of the regular season.
The Storm split a doubleheader with Bottineau Post 42 (11-9) at DLYA Field on Wednesday, giving them a final regular season record of 8-14. Wiberg was phenomenal in the seven-inning Game 1, pitching a complete game shutout on 86 pitches. He also recorded an RBI single that broke a no-hitter in the fifth inning, leading Devils Lake to a 2-0 win. The offense stayed mostly quiet, though, in a 9-0 Game 2 loss.
“I think our pitching staff has gotten a little bit better each time,” Storm coach Eric Nygaard said. “They’re pitching. They’re not just trying to post it up there to get a strikeout. We’re just spotting up our pitches.”
Game 1: Devils Lake 2, Bottineau 0
Wiberg retired the first five batters he faced.
The small right-hander was locating his fastball well, and making hitters look silly with his curveball. He was in control from the beginning.
“The more you throw a fastball, the more the curveball just works,” Wiberg said. “If they don’t see it as much, it’s gonna work better.”
Wiberg surrendered a two-out double in the second inning, but ended the frame with his second strikeout. He struck out the first two batters in the third inning, giving him three consecutive punchouts and five total.
For the first and only time of the game, he briefly lost his control after that, issuing a pair of two-out walks to the top of the order. But a lineout to center got him out of trouble. A two-out error extended what would have been a perfect fourth inning, but he casually worked a three-pitch strikeout.
“Tayven did an awesome job today,” Nygaard said. “I talked to [catcher] Riley [Brenno-Quale] during the game, and I said, ‘This is fun.’… It was nice to have the pitcher work with the catcher.”
Devils Lake’s offense, meanwhile, was having issues of its own. The Storm drew five walks in the first four innings, but they didn’t record any hits, let alone any runs. A double play hurt them in the first inning, and they stranded two runners in the fourth.
And, two outs into the fifth inning, it looked like more of the same. But Ben Brodina’s hit by pitch sparked something. Brodina stole both second and third base, which brought none other than Wiberg to the plate.
He lined a single up the middle.
“I choked up on the bat,” Wiberg said, motioning with his hands. “Get the barrel to the ball, and good things will happen.”
Devils Lake went ahead 1-0, and the Wiberg show was on full display in multiple facets. A bonus run scored on an error by Bottineau’s third baseman, bringing Devils Lake to the sixth inning with a 2-0 lead.
Wiberg stayed confident and collected through the rest of his outing. He allowed just a one-out single in the sixth — one of only two hits he allowed all night. He retired the final five batters he faced. For the penultimate out, he made a nice play running in towards the plate on a soft roller. He didn’t rush it, and made a strong but calm throw to first.
Wiberg collected seven strikeouts. The only walks he issued were the two back-to-back ones in the third inning. It was a masterful outing.
Each team only recorded two hits. But Wiberg’s pitching, plus his clutch hit, provided all Devils Lake needed for a win.
Game 2: Bottineau 9, Devils Lake 0
The Storm fell in the non-conference, five-inning nightcap to officially complete their regular season.
With Mack Elsperger on the mound, they fell behind 2-0 very quickly on a double, two straight errors and an RBI groundout. Elsperger ended the top of the first by stranding the bases loaded.
The Storm loaded the bases themselves in the bottom of the first, but they hit into an inning-ending double play.
Elsperger wound up throwing two innings, allowing two unearned runs. Easton Kraft took over and surrendered three straight hits. One of the runners was thrown out trying to advance to third, but Bottineau extended its lead to 3-0 nonetheless.
Brodina pitched the fourth inning and allowed Devils Lake’s third unearned run of the game. After a single and a stolen base, catcher Jaxon Strong made an errant throw, and the run scored on a fielder’s choice.
Bottineau scored five more against Brodina in the fifth to widen the gap to nine runs. Two scored on a bases-loaded single, and another came in on a throwdown to second. Two more hits made it 9-0.
Devils Lake only had two hits of its own in the contest.
“Offensively, we struggled a little bit today,” Nygaard said.
But now, the regular summer season is in the rearview mirror. The sectional tournament starts Monday in Cando.
“You don’t have to be good until the end of the year,” Nygaard said. “Let’s work slowly at trying to get better each day. But tournament time is a different story now, too. So we’ll have to mental-attack it as ‘Let’s go win each game.’”
The Storm will be up against some big and tough competition from around the area. Devils Lake has the luxury of fielding two American Legion teams, which means that most of the older and more experienced players are on the A team. The Storm aren’t letting this theoretical disadvantage hold them back.
“You just gotta be confident,” Wiberg said. “We’re the youngest team; got nothing to lose.”
